Wire clamp



May 5, 1925.

J. J. CAMPBELL ET AL WIRE CLAMP Filed Dec. 15, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet I -/N VENTORS M OQ'TQJZZM 49M. JAW W May 5,1925.

J. J. CAMPBELL ET AL FiledDec. 15 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/TNEGSES May s, 1925.

J. J. CAMPBELL ET AL WIRE CLAIP Filed D96. 15,- 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTIOR w f WITNESSES clamp arms 7 and 8, a back Patented ti, 1925.

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SIG-NGRE; TO SPANG AND COMBANY. O1" BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 6F PENNSYLVANIA.

WIRE CLAJVIP.

Application filed December 15, 1921. Serial No. 522,517.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN J. CAMPBELL and FERDINAND J. SPANG, citizens of the United States, and both residents of Butler, in the county of Butler and the State of Pennsylvania, have jointly made a new and useful Invention in Wire Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire line clamps and has for an object to produce such a clamp which is rugged and durable, and

which is easily manipulated and is ell'ective in operation. I j

A further object is to produce a clamp in which improved means are employed for controlling the. relative movement of the clamp arms or jaws and for insuring the proper relative positioning when the jaws are closed.

A further object is to produce a clamp in which means are employed for reducing the friction between the moving parts and at the same time increasing the durability and ruggedness of the clamp.

These, and other objects which will be made more apparent throughout the further description of the invention, are attained by means of apparatusembodying the features hereindescribed and illustrated.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a. plan View of j acla np embodying our invention.

Figure line S--3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a sectional view along the line 4.-1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional View along the line 55 of Fig. 8 and Fig. 6 is a rear View oftthe clantip, portionsbeing shown broken and in section for convenience of illustration.

The clamp illustrated includes jaws or plate 9, a clamp tightening device 10, and jaw-positioning means or guiding pawls 11. Each clamp arm is provided with a liner-way, and a liner 12 of the usual construction is mounted therein and, as shown, isheld in place by means of a set screw 13 which extends through an unthreaded aperture in the clamp arm and is screwed into a threaded aperture provided in a boss formed on the rear-face of the liner. A'link-engaging hook 37 is integrally formed with each clamp arm and is so located with relation to the liner that the effective point of suspension of the clamp is in line with the axis 01' the liners when the clamp arms are closed.

Each arm is pivotally connected to the back plate 9 by means of a separate pin 14. The back plate and the arms areso formed that th pins are so reinforced throughout their length that they are substantially relieved of shear and cross'bending strains occasioned by the wire-clamping operation. Each pin forms, in effect, a. roller bearing between the back plate and itsassociated arm.

As illustrated, the back plate is provided at each end with two-pin-receiving lugs 15. These lugs are located on opposite sides of the plate and the pin-receiving apertures 01" each set of lugs are, of course, aligned. Eachclamp arm is also provided with two pin-receiving lugs 16 so spaced that the back plate 9 fits between them. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the back plate is so con structed that it engages each pin 14L throughout the entire length of .the back plate. Each clamp arm is also so construct ed that it engages the portion of the 00- operating pin located between the lugs 15 of the back plate. This is accomplished by so forming the ends of back plate 9 between the lugs 15 that each end partially encircles one of the pins 14, and by providing a sectOIESllZtPGCl boss 17 on each clamp arm, so located with relation to the back' plate that it projects between the lugs 15 and engages the pin throughout the intermediate portion, located between the lugs 15--15 of the back plate. The pin-engaging face of each boss 17 is arranged to engage a substantial portion of the pin and the boss is so located with relation to the pin-engaging portion of the back plate that the intermediate portion of the pin engaged by the bearing face of the boss is located opposite to the pin-engaging portion of the back plate betweenthe lugs 15. Each arm is also provided with an arc-shaped way 19 into which the curved end of theback plate projects. As shown, the way is so formed that the curved pin-engaging portion of the back plate partially extends into the way even when the arms arein the closed position illustrated in Fig. 5, and the arrangementis ill] pin-engaging face of the lug 17 semi-spherical base on arms about the pins i l.

of heel: pl ate and arms above described, and illustrated in Fig. 5, the pins 14 are relieved of cross-bending strains and the shearing strains, to which hinge pins are ordinarily subjected when the clamp is closed and pressed into gripi nng engagement with a line wire, and while the pins 14 hold the clamp arms in place on the back plate, they function as roller bearings rather than hinge pins. This is occasioned by the fact that the lugs 17 operate to transmit the thrust to the back )late and the intermediate portion of each pin merely operates as a strut or compression member, since its active portion is engaged on one side by the and on the other side by the pin-engaging face of the curved-over end portionof the back plate.

in the dr wings, we have shown the clamp rorided with two guiding pawls 11 which re so located and arranged that the arms 7 and P alw s assume the proper relative position when closed. As shown, each pawl consists of a'cup 20 having a substantially spherical head 2'l. The cup is slidably mounted in a recess in the arm 8 and the portion 21 projects beyond the recess. The cylindrical portion of the pawl is of such dimension that it is guided by the aperture throughout a short range of longitudinal motion. It also encloses a coil spring 22 which operates between it and the inner end of the aperture "to yieldingly press the cup outwardly and hold the head 21 in engagement with an aperture 123 formed in the arm 7. This aperture is provided with a which the spherical head 21 rides duringpivotal motion of the "While it is apparent that the pawls 11 illustrated shift one arm longitudinally, with relation to the other arm-duringthe opening movement, it will also be apparent that the range of longritudinal movement is extremely small and that the pawls always operate to returuthe armsto the same relative position whenthey a re closed, and insure the proper positioning of the liners 12 with relation to each other when they are moved into gripping engagement with a line wire. The pawls are extremely effective inoperatio'n and in addi tion they are simple to manufacture and may be readily installed without the necessity of materially modifying the construction of the jaws or clamparms.

The clamp-tightening device generally referred to by the numeral 10 consists of a tightening"screw 25, the shank of which is reciprocatively mounted in a saddle '26 and is prrwided with an arm-engaging head 27. The threaded end of the shank is engaged by a haml-o 'ierated tightening nnt28 The saddle is pivotally secured to one clamparm so that the T-head 2? of the tightening screw may =e moved into or out'of-line with '28 so arranged that the ball or balls 31 relleved'of strain during the tightening extensions 31 which extend parallel with the screw-receiving way or guide 32 and each of which is provided with an aperture adapted to receive the projecting end of one of the pins SO. in. order to relieve the pins of the shearing strains, the saddle is provided with two lugs 33, each of which is adapted to engage a cylindrical. boss formed at the ends of the bifurcated portion of the clamp 8 and so arranged that the cylindrical surface thereof is concentric with the pin -30 carried thereby.

The guide 32 for the tightening bolt is located between the extensions 31 and also between the lugs and projects between the forks of the bifurcated end of the arm 8. The screw is held against rotation therein by a suitable key and the tightening nut is screwed onto the threaded end of the screw and 1s rotatatively held in place on the saddle by one or more balls 3% located in a suitable race formed in a cylindrical extension of the saddle and the nut. After the line wire 35 is located in' place between the liners 12, the clamp arms 7 and 8 are moved toward the closed position and the saddle 26 is swung about the pivot pins to bring the T-head 2'? f the tightening screw in line with the recess or socket 29. This may be accomplished by :means of a handle 2-36 formed integrally with the T- head 27. The nut 28 is then turned for the purpose of drawing the screw 25 inwardly,

relatively to the saddle, and of thereby moving the T-head into engagement with the clamp arm 7. [is this screw? 2 operation continues, the clamp arms are moved lo- 'g ther and the liners 12 are forced into gripping engagement with the line wire 3;), the gripping force, of course, being" dependent upon the amount of force applied to the nut 28 in drawing up the tightening screw '25. As shown, the saddle is provided with a thrustbearmg 38 for the base of the nut are operation.

In releasing the clamp, the tightening nut is turned in the opposite direction so that the T-head 27' of the tightening screw moves away from the ldle.

As soon as the head is moved out'of engagement with the groove 29, the head may be sworn; outwardly by .means of the handle 36,-and the line may be withdrawn from between the clamp arms. lVlule we have described andillustrated but one embodunent of our invention, it

lflil made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth by the appended claims.

What We claim is l. A wire line clamp comprising a back plate, clamp arms, a separate pin for pivotally securing each arm to said plate, said arms and plate being provided with pin encircling lugs and additional pin engaging surfaces so formed as to substantially relieve the pins of shearing strains when the arms are forced to a closed position.

2. In combination in a line clamp, a back plate, two clamp arms. and a pivot pm connecting each arm to the back plate and forming a roller bearingbetween each clamp arm and said plate for holding each arm in pivotal relation with the plate and means for securing the arms in clamping position.

3.111 combination in a line clamp, a back plate, two clamp arms, a separate pin for holding each arm in hinged relation to said plate, said plate and said clamp arms being provided witlropposed faces engaging diametrically opposite sides of the pins whereby the pins are substantially relieved of shear and means for locking the arms in clamping relation.

4. In combination in a wire line clamp, 21 back plate, two clamp arms, a separate pin for pivotally securing each arm to said plate, said arms and said plate each being so constructed as to provide a bearing on the pin substantially throughout the length of each pin whereby the pins are relieved of shearing stresses, and a guiding pawlyieldingly mounted on one of said arms and engaging a recess formed in the other arm, and means for holding said arms in clan'iping relation.

5. A wire line clamp comprising a back plate, clamp arms, a separate pin for pivotally securing each arm to said back plate, means formedintegrally with the back plate whereby each pin is engaged. by the back plate throughout the length of the back plate, and means formed integrally with each arm whereby each pin is engaged by an arm throughout the width of the arm.

6. In combination in a wire line clamp, two clamp arms, each provided with a pin receiving lug at each side thereofand an intermediate pin engaging lug extending axially of said first mentioned lugs and sub stantially the entire width thereof, a plate located between the pin receiving lugs of each clamp .arm, and provided at each end with two spaced pin receiving lugs axially aligned with the pin receiving lugs of the adjacent clamp arm and apin engaging lug extending axially of the pin receiving lugs and between each set of pin receiving lugs,

a separate pin for pivotally securing each arm to said plate, and means for securing the arms in clamping relation.

7. In combination with the relativelyniov able clamp arms of a wire line clamp, a

locking means for said clamp comprising a tightening screw having an arm engaging head, a saddle pivotally mounted on one of said arms and having a way in which said screw is reciprocatively mounted, means operatively secured to said saddle for moving said screw in said way, and lugs formed on said saddle for engaging the mounting arm thereof and for transmitting the tightening force exerted by said screw directly to said arm. a

8. In combination with the relatively movable clamp arms of a wire line clamp, a locking device for said clamp arms comprising a tightening screw having an armengaginghead, a saddle pivotally mounted 011 one of said arms having a thrust bearing engaging the mounting arm and provided with a way in which the shank of said screw is mounted, a tightening nut mounted on said screw, andmeans for rotatively holding said nut in place on said saddle.

9. In combination with the relatively movable elamp arms of a wire line clamp, a locking device for said clamp arms comprising a tightening screw having an arm-engaging head formed on the shank thereof, a saddle pivotally mounted on one of said arms having a thrust bearing engaging said mounting arm, and provided with a way in which the shank of said screw is reciprocativelymounted, a tightening nut screwed onto the shank of said screw, and a ball for operatively securing said nut in place on said saddle.

10. A wire line clamp comprising a back plate, clamp arms and a separate pin for pivotally securing each arm to said back plate, said backplate and arms being so formed that each arm engages one pin throughout substantially the entire width of the arm and the plate engages each pin throughout substantially the entire length of the plate, whereby each pin is substantially relieved of shearing strains when the armsare forced to a closing position.

11. A Wire line clamp comprising a back so i plate, clamp arms, a separate pin for pivot ally securing each arm to said back plate, said arms and said back plate being so formed that each arm forms a bearing for one pin substantially throughout the width of the arm and the plate forms a bearing for both pins substantially throughout the length of the plate, and a projecting lug formed on each arm and reinforcing the ad jacent pin bearing on the plate when the arms are forced into a line clamping posi tion.

12. A wire line clamp comprising two clamp arms, a back plate, and a separate pin for pivotally securing each arm to said plate, said plate being provided with pin receiving lugs and so formed that it engages each pin throughout substantially the entire length of the plate, and each arm being so formed that it engages its pivot pin through substantially the entire Width of the arm, and being provided with at least one pin receiving lug and with a lug extending; longitudinally of the pin and engaging the adjacent 10 side of said plate, and means for forcing the arms to a closed position.

In. testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 12th day oi Devemher, 1921.

JNO. J. CAMPBELL. FEED J. SPANG. 

